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WORSE THAN MERCENARIES

The Washington Post’s William M. Arkin, in a little trouble over this, artfully extricates himself:

I was dead wrong in using the word mercenary to describe the American soldier today.

These men and women are not fighting for money with little regard for the nation. The situation might be much worse than that ...

Oh, bravo, sir! Well played! Via LGF, which has further news on the silver-tongued DC military maven. Also at LGF: a Blair’s Law convergence of denialists.

UPDATE. In other military-financial developments, Dylan Kissane forwards a scam email - a genuine scam email, such as that makes sense - tailored to events in Iraq:

Dear Fellow

How are you today,I know this mail might come to you as a surprise,but please i want you to treat it with all seriousness.My name is segt Davide Bailey from American soldier send to Iraq for peace keeping.I and captain Andrew was the person who located Suddan at his hidout and arrested him,the united Nation and our America Goverment did not compensate us over this wounderful job up till now.

Before handing Suddan over to our American Goverment he told me that concerning one of his underground house were he parked millions of dollars in bags,we located the house and we found the money being parked as he said,before the announcement to our Goverment(America)i and some of our Militry collegues took away ten million each to ourself as a compensation to ourself.

See? Mercenaries!

Posted by Tim B. on 02/02/2007 at 10:00 AM
  1. I think the d*ckheads have taken over the establishment. To the battering rams!

    Posted by SoberHT on 2007 02 02 at 10:04 AM • permalink

  2. These men and women are not fighting for money with little regard for the nation. The situation might be much worse than that

    Yes, it is for things such as freedom, liberty, honor, and even (dare I say it) patriotism.

    Thank you to all who serve.

    Posted by rbj1 on 2007 02 02 at 10:10 AM • permalink

  3. Arkin seems to believe that being anti-Democrat and anti-journalism is anti-American

    Posted by Andy Freeman on 2007 02 02 at 10:17 AM • permalink

  4. Arkin is an arrogant little man with a big mouth and shriveled soul, surely the worse possible combination for someone claiming to be a “journalist”. 

    And, alas, the amusement derived from watching him opening his mouth only to insert his foot in no way makes up for the damages he causes this country through his “journalism”.

    Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2007 02 02 at 10:19 AM • permalink

  5. Well, the spelling in that spam seems to be what Kerry told us to expect from the troops… so I say it’s authentic!

    Posted by richard mcenroe on 2007 02 02 at 10:26 AM • permalink

  6. I sent the following post to Arkin’s blog; we’ll see if it appears:

    The WAPO must continue publishing Bad Billy Arkin.  He is the best rebuttal to their pretensions to credibility and journalistic integrity I have ever seen.

    Posted by richard mcenroe on 2007 02 02 at 10:32 AM • permalink

  7. #6, Succinct and scathing.  I like it!

    Posted by HisHineness on 2007 02 02 at 10:37 AM • permalink

  8. Murdoc Online says that he has been dishing out scumbaggery for quite some time, and provides a link to a book Arkin wrote that “revealed 3,000 military and intel code names, many of them TOP SECRET.”

    Still, we’ve always known how the left feels about the troops, so it’s kind of refreshing that they’ve stopped lying about it.

    Posted by blogagog on 2007 02 02 at 10:42 AM • permalink

  9. #6: Perfect, Richard.

    All you really need to know about Barkin’ Arkin is that he was at one time associated with the Institute for Policy Studies, an extreme left-wing “think tank” that historically has demonstrated an unswerving hostility to the U.S. (and, before the collapse of the old Soviet Union, was a lap-dog for the Commies). The guy has no genuine credibility at all as a “military expert”, in spite of serving in an intelligence capacity in the Army for a few years back in the early ‘70’s. This is really an instance of a troll having his own blog.

    Posted by paco on 2007 02 02 at 10:44 AM • permalink

  10. I think it must be a form letter.

    Dear Fellow

    How are you today,I know this mail might come to you as a surprise,but please i want you to treat it with all seriousness. My name is Willam Arken from the Post of Washington, hole up in nations capital hiding from Marine Corps.I and the editor was the person who spoke truth to the power,but the Bushitler Goverment sent fascist bloggers for crush my disent.

    After many year of selling out my country and smear military I have many American dollars which I will to take cuba or Venezuala where the good leaders are with universal litracy and a free health care.

    Posted by fidens on 2007 02 02 at 10:49 AM • permalink

  11. Better an army of mercenaries than an army of draftees. At least mercenaries will stay loyal as long as they’re getting paid; draftees have a well-documented tendency to frag their commanders.

    Better a thousand Abu Gharibs than one My Lai.

    Posted by Tatterdemalian on 2007 02 02 at 10:54 AM • permalink

  12. I was getting a bit steamed reading his BS, until I got to the comment section. Many there said enough to Mr Arkin to more than put a smile back on my face.
    Especially what the commenter listed as A United States Army Officer wrote. Well said.

    Posted by Texas Bob on 2007 02 02 at 11:07 AM • permalink

  13. #11

    I sit on the fence with regards to full-time volunteer and part-time militia.  There’s good arguments for an against both models.

    However, as technology gets more sophisticated, it the favour swings toward volunteer.

    Posted by murph on 2007 02 02 at 11:08 AM • permalink

  14. #13: What, you’re still online, Murph? Ed K. hasn’t fried your computer yet?

    Posted by paco on 2007 02 02 at 11:17 AM • permalink

  15. #11 “Draftees have a well-documented tendency to frag their commanders.”

    They only do that to incompetent officers. It’s a survival measure. They’ll fight to the death behind a good officer.

    Posted by mareeS on 2007 02 02 at 11:18 AM • permalink

  16. Yeah.  I slept with one eye open last night.  It’s tough work being at the top of the shitlist of a pack of dimwits.

    Posted by murph on 2007 02 02 at 11:23 AM • permalink

  17. Powerline has an update

    Posted by paco on 2007 02 02 at 11:55 AM • permalink

  18. #16, hope you’re not serious.

    Posted by mareeS on 2007 02 02 at 12:11 PM • permalink

  19. I thought that the height of human arrogance had bee reached with the global-warming enviro-weenies.

    I was wrong.  This guy gets the prize.

    Posted by trainer on 2007 02 02 at 12:11 PM • permalink

  20. mareeS

    I’m not.  Don’t worry.

    Although the threats came thick and fast from my new Dutch friend.  It’d take a brick of superskunk to mellow that guy.

    Posted by murph on 2007 02 02 at 12:17 PM • permalink

  21. “arrogant and intolerant”  Projection.  He should get his face out of the mirror.

    Sounds like he doesn’t want the First Amendment to tricle down to the American soldier(generic use of the term).  Sounds rather arrogant and intolerant with just a dash of anti-democratic overtones, but that’s just me I guess.

    Horrors that they should point out that some actions by certain people and movements heighten the chances of getting them killed.

    Posted by yojimbo on 2007 02 02 at 12:20 PM • permalink

  22. “tricle”!  Well, whatever!

    Posted by yojimbo on 2007 02 02 at 12:20 PM • permalink

  23. The privileged position of the American troops is that they’re not restricted by media spin.

    So you get, free, a valuable voice in the national debate, and one that’s on the scene where the media are in hotels.  I tend to privilege their voice in the matter for that reason, as well as their freedom from the soap opera that the media have to cater to, owing to target audience.

    As to which Americans these are, they select themselves because they’re called and they go, which is at the bottom of all morality, and that’s why these troops are honored.

    It’s not Democrats vs the military, it’s Democrats vs morality.

    No wonder the Democrats raise a stink.  Appropriate cliche.

    (and that’s why these troops are honored  It’s not being wounded, or losing your life, that gets the respect; it’s being called and going.  The former can be a consequence, but is not the reason for the esteem they’re held in.

    Posted by rhhardin on 2007 02 02 at 12:21 PM • permalink

  24. murph, where’s his tent? I’ll send the husband around.

    Posted by mareeS on 2007 02 02 at 12:25 PM • permalink

  25. Somewhere in the Netherlands.

    Don’t worry, if we wait long enough his new aegophilic countrymen will take care of him.

    Posted by murph on 2007 02 02 at 12:30 PM • permalink

  26. Or to officers perceived as incompetant. Sometimes perception and reality don’t match up so well… including the perceptions of one not particularly competant lieutenant who may have feared getting fragged if he tried to call off the attack on My Lai.

    Take some good intentions, separate out all understanding of facts on the ground (lest they lend a “mercenary” nature to your concoction), toss in some good old human will to live, and what do you have? A recipe for a first-class clusterfuck.

    Posted by Tatterdemalian on 2007 02 02 at 12:34 PM • permalink

  27. “Yes, it is for things such as freedom, liberty, honor, and even (dare I say it) patriotism.”

    Guys like Arkin don’t have a patriotic bone in their bodies.  His posts make it clear that he has nothing but contempt for our troops/sailors/airmen (airpersons?).

    Whenever some lefty asks me “how dare you question my patriotism?”, I always say “Because most of you scumbags would sell your country out in a New York second if you thought it would increase the size of your welfare checks”.

    That really pisses them off.

    Posted by Dave Surls on 2007 02 02 at 12:46 PM • permalink

  28. Arkin is an arrogant little man with a big mouth and shriveled soul, surely the worse possible combination for someone claiming to be a “journalist”.

    Actually, he claims to be an “activist”, not a “journalist”.

    Posted by Rob Crawford on 2007 02 02 at 01:21 PM • permalink

  29. Heheheh…  I wonder if the spammer got Kerry?

    Posted by aaron_ on 2007 02 02 at 01:34 PM • permalink

  30. Obviously the only people whose connection with the military gives them moral standing to use their Freedom of Speech Rights to speak on the war are those like Cindy Sheehan.

    Posted by JorgXMcKie on 2007 02 02 at 01:51 PM • permalink

  31. I’ve done a bit of scam-baiting in the past. My claim to fame is, while posing as the rich American businessman Pierpont Weaver, I counter scammed about $100 worth of gold dust out of one Dr. Ebenezer Kuffour (fongly known as Dr KaFool).

    I blew a chance at helping out Suha Arafat unlock Yassar’s double top secret bank accounts. I wouldn’t mind giving these soldiers lads a hand…

    Posted by ambisinsitral on 2007 02 02 at 02:05 PM • permalink

  32. Eh, should be fondly known as.

    Yours in Peace and Fertility, etc.

    Posted by ambisinsitral on 2007 02 02 at 02:07 PM • permalink

  33. #28 Actually, he claims to be an “activist”, not a “journalist”.

    Actually, he’s a sniveling little bitch.

    In other military-financial developments, Dylan Kissane forwards a scam email - a genuine scam email, such as that makes sense - tailored to events in Iraq:

    Just how many Nigerians are there in the US military, anyway?

    Posted by RebeccaH on 2007 02 02 at 03:27 PM • permalink

  34. ok, but where do I send my $10K so I can help him get his $10M out of the country? I want in on this I tells ya!!!11

    Posted by docweasel on 2007 02 02 at 03:47 PM • permalink

  35. Damn you Texas Bob!  You and your arrogant mercenary ways, all used to keep me quiet, with all your obscene luxuries!

    Oh.  Wait.  You never did that, did you?

    BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE OBSCENE LUXURIES, SIR????

    How dare you eat MREs and sleep in a bag, sir!

    Good Day, Sir!

    I said, GOOD DAY!

    Posted by ushie on 2007 02 02 at 04:22 PM • permalink

  36. Hey, nice Tootsie reference, ushie!

    Posted by docweasel on 2007 02 02 at 04:35 PM • permalink

  37. Don’t miss Iowahawk’s riveting debate on the issue.

    Posted by Neeniebug on 2007 02 02 at 04:41 PM • permalink

  38. Notice how he selected only the worst-spelled entries to reprint in the first part? I’ve been in a few flame wars—I’m sure everyone here has—and I know that only the worst of the enemy’s salvos get picked and dredged up again. If he were really willing to spar with these guys, he’d pick the good ones and let the fight commence.

    Weenie.

    Posted by Tungsten Monk on 2007 02 02 at 04:49 PM • permalink

  39. Death and destruction is its own reward for Satan’s Hordes, dontcha know?

    Posted by Dminor on 2007 02 02 at 04:53 PM • permalink

  40. hes a grade a weenie, when he has a wank he scatters some pepper on his groin so he can use the tweezers to grab his micropenis when it sneezes.
    Added my little bit to the comments at the WP, dont expect to see them though, the language used may give poor Flautleroy the vapours.

    Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2007 02 02 at 06:23 PM • permalink

  41. #38 You’re on to me Ushie!
    I was living the life of Riley before that narc Arkin (and now you) have exposed the truth to the world.

    Posted by RichlyGG on 2007 02 02 at 06:51 PM • permalink

  42. Behold the power of the internet! Beware, you Arkin, the wrath of Blair’s bleaters!

    Posted by Miranda Divide on 2007 02 02 at 09:11 PM • permalink

  43. So they let you out of the booby hatch again, Miranda? Hope you’re taking your meds.

    Posted by Dr Alice on 2007 02 02 at 10:38 PM • permalink

  44. #42, ah Miranda, thankyou for that apt description.

    If you’ve been watching TV in Australia of late (a commercial channel, not the ABC), then you might have seen one of the “lamb” ads.  Chicks dig the scent of lamb.  I am proud to be a bleater.  Before going to the pub last night (in Balmain of all places), I rubbed myself all over with a lamb chop. 

    Had to beat the women off with a stick!  My God, I soon found myself barricaded behind an upturned pool table at the Town Hall Hotel, and had to strip off an wash myself with a few jugs of beer (one of Kirin and one of Saint Arnout). 

    The taxi driver that gave me refuge and took me home was not impressed at having to drive a wet, naked bloke back to Five Dock.  Particularly when several women scratched his face as they tried to climb in his window.

    Tonight, I am going to print out a page of this blog, dab it gently around my neck and see how that goes.

    Baaah!

    Posted by mr creosote on 2007 02 02 at 10:49 PM • permalink

  45. #43 Doctor Alice: We don’t actually know that she was let out. Might need to check her for barbed wire scratches (and see if the resident psychiatrist happens to be in his examination room, bound and gagged).

    Posted by paco on 2007 02 02 at 10:52 PM • permalink

  46. “I was dead wrong in using the word mercenary to describe the American soldier today. These men and women are not fighting for money…”

    Yeah, we know.  That’s because our military get paid crap wages for risking their asses to protect worthless (and well-paid) socialist maggots, like you, from mass-murdering terrorists.

    If they were mercenaries, in it only for the money, they’d be doing what you do.

    Posted by Dave Surls on 2007 02 03 at 02:06 AM • permalink

  47. As a newspaperman myself, I was bemused by Arkin’s unhappiness that readers took his words ‘literally.’

    Posted by Harry Eagar on 2007 02 03 at 03:30 PM • permalink

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